New firm aids in legal filings

If you've ever wondered about the alternatives to hiring an attorney because of high costs -- but don't want to risk taking on the task yourself -- a new local business offers options.

The Alternative to Attorneys Inc. is located in Pellston. It is primarily Internet-based, and is available for a wide variety of services.

Sarah Griffith, a paralegal, and her husband Craig, a former financial analyst, are the owners of the business.

"We have both had a need for these type of services in the past," Craig said, "and when we used an online service in 2010 to set up a business, we found that there were some pretty large hidden fees.

"One of the other things that impacted us was a void in the area of service after the initial need."

Some of the common legal services they offer are bankruptcy filing, creation of limited-liability or other corporations, filing of quit claim deeds, small-claims complaints and tax documents. Because neither of the Griffiths are attorneys, they do not offer advice on what or when to file, but will refer you to the proper professional for that advice.

According to the mission statement for The Alternative to Attorneys, the goal of this company is to offer professional and affordable services at a price much lower then a typical attorney, accountant or other professional might charge.

"We want to offer affordable options to everyone, especially people in northern Michigan who might be struggling due to the poor economy," said Craig. "March is 'start-a-business month,' so we're even offering a further discount on some of our services.

"We offer a 100 percent money-back guarantee if, for any reason, a client's petition or filing is rejected due to errors in paperwork we file," Sarah noted. "We're not able to guarantee success of your filing because we're not representing you , but are simply preparing the paperwork."

As the Griffiths will tell you, you can certainly take it upon yourself to perform these same filings with no assistance at all, but knowing what to file and how to file it properly so it won't be rejected can be difficult.

"Some paperwork can be rejected entirely for something as small as a misspelled word or leaving one box empty inappropriately," Sarah noted. "The value in our services is peace of mind, and savings in time and work that may not accomplish your needs if not done accurately."

The couple noted that they have seen a marked increase in filings of bankruptcy and reorganization due to the poor economy.

"A lot of good people need help to get things back in line. Although we can't help them avoid the need, we can save them some money when they come to us," Sarah said.

If you have questions regarding the services offered by The Alternative to Attorneys Inc. you may contact the business directly at (231) 203-1100 or visit their website, www.thealternativetoattorneys.com. Those looking for legal advice can find local attorneys via a directory at the Michigan Bar Association's website, www.michbar.org.